Co-founder and former Three Dog Night frontman Chuck Negron (1942-2026) discusses the collectible records of his career, the early releases on small labels, the rare and recalled albums of Three Dog Night and mega-smash excesses and turnaround of his life and career.
Interview from July 2022
Topics Include:
- Chuck's autobiography Three Dog Nightmare .
- Basketball was first passion growing up in Bronx schoolyards.
- Made first record "Oh Baby" in 1958 at age fifteen.
- Early releases on tiny Bronx Records label extremely rare today.
- Progressed through Rondelles, Marlinda, and Heart Van regional California labels.
- "I Dream of an Angel" became regional hit across central California.
- Columbia Records offered deal while playing college basketball at Hancock.
- Chose to finish basketball season, damaging initial Columbia Records excitement.
- Learned hard lesson about commitment after squandering early industry enthusiasm.
- Bill Sharman offered Cal State LA scholarship but chose music.
- Left school permanently, ending high-level basketball career for music industry.
- Three Dog Night formed with three lead singers sharing spotlight.
- Band's strategy: find great songs, not write them themselves exclusively.
- "One" by Harry Nilsson became breakthrough hit launching massive success.
- Achieved 21 consecutive Top 40 hits selling over 60 million records.
- "Joy to the World" became worldwide number one, band's biggest success.
- "Black and White" addressed racial integration as mainstream social statement message.
- Hard Labor's controversial birthing cover recalled after hundreds of thousands distributed.
- Now hosts weekly WhatNot show selling rare Three Dog Night collectibles.
- At 80, credits basketball training for vocal stamina and survival.
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